Bristol Cathedral — Attraction in Bristol

Bristol Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, is the Church of England cathedral in the city of Bristol, England. Founded in 1140 and consecrated in 1148, it was originally St Augustine's Abbey but after the Dissolution of the Monasteries it became in 1542 the seat of the newly created Bishop of Bristol and the cathedral of the new Diocese of Bristol. It is a Grade I listed building. Located on College Green, the cathedral has tall Gothic windows and pinnacled skyline. The eastern end is a hall church in which the aisles are the same height as the Choir and share the Lierne vaults. The late Norman chapter house, situated south of the transept, contains some of the first uses of pointed arches in England. In addition to the cathedral's architectural features, it contains several memorials and an historic organ. Little of the original stained glass remains with some being replaced in the Victorian era and further losses during the Bristol Blitz. Prior to the building of the main organ, the cathedral had a chair organ, which was built by Robert Taunton in 1662, and before that one built by Thomas Dallam in 1630. Bristol Cathedral was used as a location in the 1978 film The Medusa Touch under the guise of a fictional London place of worship called...

One of England’s hidden treasures. If you’re into medieval art and architecture, and you have an interest in abbeys and monasteries, this is a great place to visit.

The cathedral was built as the abbey church of an Augustinian monastery, and is a beautiful example of a medieval monastic church that survived the greed of Henry VIII and the destruction of the puritans. As it was never intended to be a cathedral, it is smaller than York, Lincoln, Salisbury etc. But this adds to its beauty and serenity.

Outside, the monastic gatehouse survives. Inside, the beautiful Chapter House is hidden away next to the church building, and is worth hunting out. It’s very typical of a medium sized abbey, and must be one of the few that survived so perfectly.

After visiting some English Heritage ruined abbeys, it’s great to visit a few of the abbey churches that survived the dissolution. Bristol Cathedral - in my mind - ranks as one of the most surprisingly well preserved ones. Sitting in the silent and peaceful Chapter House, you can easily feel what life was like for a medieval monk.

The little gift shop is lovely, but it closes very early - sometimes at 3:30pm - which is a pity as it’s got some very...

Truly breathtaking inside and out, this Cathedral blew me away with its grandeur of history and culture!

I just wish I'd of visited on a day that did not have so many school day trips, as i wanted to immerse myself in an historical wonderland, but instead i had to keep my thoughts to myself until i left this outstanding building, as the noise was so overwhelming, very disappointing, as i wanted it to be a magical experience from the moment i step in, until the time i left.

Another downside is as soon as i arrived, i was made to feel uncomfortable that i was not paying to gain entry to this amazing work of art, by the lady who greeted me upon entry, that i felt obliged to hand over money out of courtesy for the privilege of gaining entry to something so beautiful, but isn't this a free cathedral with the option of donating?

I also felt watched the whole time i was near anything that required a donation, such as lighting a candle, i think i must of spent at least £10 in this brief trip that lasted less than an hour out of a time restraint, so very much worth it though, but it should still be by choice to donate...